Locomotive flagstaff and container



July 29 1924. 7 1,503,154

w. L. GIBSON LOCOMOTIVE FLAGSTAFF AND CONTAINER Filed May s, 1923 IlHHHHIlw llll IV I 311mm,: 1 '0 2 William L .lbfOW,

Patented July 29, 19 24. I

WILLIAM L. (mason, or TRENTON, MISSOURI.

LOCOMOTIVE FLAGSTAFF AND CONTAINER.

Application filed May 3, 192-3.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM L. GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive F lagstaffs and Containers, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to flag staffs and containers therefor, for use more particularly in classifying railway trains, and one object is to provide a flag staff to which a signal flag may be readily attached for use, or detached so that it may be laundered or replaced by another when worn out.

A further object is to provide a container in which one or more staffs and the flags may be kept from becoming soiled or damaged when not in use, and which constitutes a support for one of the flag staffs when the attached flag is displayed as a signal.

Each container is preferably supplied with a green flag and a white flag, the former being displayed on a regular train followed by a section, and the latter on an extra train, for the purpose of classifying or indicating the character of said trains.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a locomotive V equipped with the devices and holding twoflags in display position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of one of the containers with two flags and their staffs within, the container being supported by a bracket shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of one of the flag staffs and its clamp for securing a flag to said staff.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the parts disclosed by Fig. 2, with the lid partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of one of the flag staffs and its clamp holding one end of a flag.

Referring now in detail to the various parts, 2 designates the container which is, preferably, cylindrical in form and. constructed of sheet metal. The upper end of said container 2 is provided with ahinged lid 4 while its lower end has a fixed stock 6. A socket 8 is fixed to the exterior of the container 2 near the lower end thereof.

10 designates a flag staff constructed, pref- Serial No. 636,483..

nally 'over the flag st'afi' 10.

B designates a locomotive provided at-its w forward portion with the usual oppositely. disposed brackets C for carrying the customary signal lamps D and signal flags. 7

In practice the brackets C are-equipped with two containers 2 and each conta'ineris provide'dwith two signal flags A, usually a white flag and a green flag, as hereinbefore stated. The stocks 6 of the containers 2' fit in holes extendingthrough the bracket C and are held from becoming dislodged, due to the motion of the locomotive, by suitable means such as cotter pins F. hen the flags A are not in use they, together with their staffs 10, are kept within the containers 2 where they are protected from becoming soiledor damaged. When one set of flags are to be used they are removed from their respective containers 2 and the staffs 10 are placed in the sockets 8 as disclosed by Fig. 1, where they are prevented from r tating and winding up the flags, due to the motion of the locomotive, by clamps 14, the marginal flanges 16 of which bear against the adjacent portions of the containers 2 as shown by Fig. 1. The pressure of the flanges 16 against the containers 2 also re liably hold the flag staff's 10 in the sockets 8 against being jolted out by the motion of the locomotive. I/Vhen soiled or damaged a flag can be readily removed from its staff 10 after removing the clamp 14, so that said flag maybe laundered or replaced by another.

Vhile I have shown the devices applied to a locomotive it is to be understood that they can be used with equal advantage at the rear end of a train or wherever else desired.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I have provided a device embodying the advantages above pointed out, and while I have shown and described the preferred construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, I reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described a container adapted to hold one or more furled flags and their staffs, and an exterior socket on said container for holding a staff in position to display its unfurled flag.

2. In a device of the character described a container adapted to hold one or more flags and their staffs, a lid to said container, and an exterior support on said container for holding a staff in position to display its flag.

3. In a device of the character described a container adapted to hold one or more furled flags and their staffs, a spindle fixed to the lower end of said container to support the same, and an exterior socket on said container for holding a staff in position todisplay its unfurled flag.

4. In a device of the character described, a container, an exterior support on said container, a fiag staff adapted to be placed Within said container or fit Within said support, and means for reinovably securing a flag to said staff. 1

5. In a device ofthe character described, a container, an exterior support on said container, a flag stall adapted to be placed Within said container or fit Within said support, and a clamp for reinovably securing a flag to said and adapted to engage the exterior of the container to prevent the flag stafi' from rotating in the support.

6. A device of the character described consisting of a tubular container provided at its lower end With a stock, a lid at the upper end of said container, a socket fixed to the exterior of said container, a flag stafi' adapted to be placed Within said container or fitted Within said socket, and clamp means for securing a flag to said stafi and provided with flanges for engaging the exterior of said container to prevent the flag staff from rotating in the socket. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM. L. GIBSON.

IVi-tnesses:

L. J. FISCHER, F. C. FISCHER. 

